Equalizer for elevator cables



25, 1945. E. T. BEATTY 2,385,488

E UALIZE'R FOR ELEVATOR C-ABLES Original-Filed Oct. 22 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet l E, Tfi'eatt y sept- 1945- i E. T; BEATTY 2,385,488

EQUALIZER FOR ELEVATOR GABLES I Original Filed 001:. 22, 1934 3 Sheets-Shet 2 ,L i i i W E? i 3mm Eigz L. T. Beatt z I Sept. 25, 1945.

E. T. BEATTY EQUALIZER FOR ELEVATOR CABLES Original Filed Oct. 22, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Z7. 7. Beaft z Patented Sept. 25, 1945 EQUALIZER FOR ELEVATOR Edward T. Beatty, Birmingham Ala.

Substituted for abandoned application Serial No.

749,339, October :22, 1934.

This application June 2, 1944, Serial No. 538,358

5 Claims. 187-1) My invention relates to mechanism for equalizing the load and eliminating slippage and uneven wear on a group of cables from which an elevator or other load to be hoisted is suspended.

This application is a substitute for my previously filed application, Serial No. 749,339, filed October 22, 1934, and since abandoned.

The chief object of my inventionis to simplify and perfect an equalizing mechanism which is relatively inexpensive, compact, flexible in respect of the number of cables for a given number of equalizing units, and which above all is adapted to utilize a group of such units, whether of mechanical or hydraulic type, arranged in a single line so mounted that they have angular play in unison about a common axis that is substantially parallel with the cable drum axis, and are also capable of independent angular movement about separate axes disposed normal to said common axis, whereby I provide for all of the adjustments that are needed to accommodate the several cables to their work and to equalize the load on them so that the maximum life and service are obtained both from the drum and the suspension cables.

My invention contemplates more particularly utilizing equalizing units of th fluid cylinder type and mounting them in alignment on a common rocker bearing, each equalizing unit comprising as elements a cylinder and a piston, and one element of each unit being connected to the bearing from which the load is suspended and the other element being connectedto the suspension cables or to equalizing bars for groups of cables. connected to equalize the loads and stresses on the several cables.

More particularly, my invention contemplates pivotally mounting a common rocking hanger plate for all the cylinders and their pistons with its axis substantially in a vertical plane tangent to the delivery edge of the cable drum whereby, should the guides in the shaft by reason of settling, misplacement or other cause get out of alignment, this plate can rock as the car rises and falls to avoid imposing strains, resulting from said non-alignment of th guides and drum, on the cable connections to the elevator.

My invention further comprises the novel details of construction and arrangements of parts, which in their preferred'embodiments only are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, and in which- Fig. l is a vertical cross sectional view through The several cylinders will be interone of the equalizing cylinder units enlarged taken on the section lin I--I of Fig. 4.

Fig. 2' is a cross sectional view taken on the line IIII of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view showing the equalizer elements with the exception of the grease rings for their ball bearings in'elevation with the other part shown in section on the line IIIIII of Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line IVIV of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the relation of the .common cable suspension hanger axis to the cable drum.

Fig. 6 is a view corresponding to Fig. 3 of a modification of my invention showing the cylinders connected to the cables and the plungers seated against the rocker bearing.

Fig. '7 is an end view of Fi 6.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar part throughout th drawings. I

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings, I show a cross head for an elevator comprising out-turned spaced channels 5 suitably connected to supporting frame work, not shown, of an. elevator. Thes channels have mounted between them, in the manner hereinafter described, an overhead rocking hanger plat 6 provided in its under face with a plurality of countersunk seats I for the reception of upper ball joint bearing rings 8. Concentric with said seats are openings 9 arranged in alignment along the center line of the hanger plate 6 andin a vertical plane with the delivery edge of the cable drum.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated, I have shown three seats I and three equalizer units but a greater or less number may be used. Each unit comprises a plunger l0 pivotally connected overhead to the center of a pair of. equalizer bars ll whichhave pivotally mounted between their end the shackles l2. Each shackle is connected to an elevator suspension cable I3; In this manner a pair of cables I3 is connected to each plunger l0.

Each plungeron its lower reduced end carries a piston comprising a bottom rigid washer IS, a top rigid washer l6 and an interposed flexible cup washer ll, all of which are held in place by a nut l8 screwed on the plunger end.

Each plunger works within a cylinder I9 having a lower head 20 screwed thereon and'removable for inspection and repair and for the removal of fluid leaking past its piston. Each cylinder is screwed to an upper head 2| which is reduced overhead to provide a seat 22 for a lower ball joint bearing 8a, complemental to the bearing 8. A grease cup ring 23 is shrunk on the bearings 8a and projects above but is offset from the upper bearing 8. At diametrically opposite points I provide in these bearings two ball sockets formed to receive a pair of balls 24 upon which the cylinder is adapted to pivot soas to have a limited angular play in a vertical plane normal to the long axis of th rocking hanger plate 6. The head 2| has a stufiing box extension 25 projecting through and above the opening 9 with ample clearance therein for all needed angular play on its ball pivots and at its upper end is-the stuffing box 26 of any suitable type for packing from cylinder I9. I

The several cylinders I9 are filled with oil or w other fiuid above the piston. equalizer pipes 21 which are arranged to connect the cylinders in'series by nipples 28which are screwed into ports 29 opening preferably through the heads 2| into the upper ends of the cylinders. The end cylinders have but a single connection while the'middle cylinder has a double connection on opposite sides and each nipple 28 is connected to a cylinder head immediately below its seat 22, thus bringing the pipe connectionsquite close to the balls 24 forming the pivotal axis upon which the cylinder rocks. The pipe connections are sufiiciently flexible to permit the several cylinders to have the necessary relative play without imposing any undue strain on their nipple connections.

As will be seen'more clearly in Figs. 3 and 4,

the hanger plate 6 is provided at each end with underhung trunnions 30 which are pivotedin bearings underhung centrally from cross bearing brackets 3! that rest on the channels 5 and are securely clamped thereto by bolts 32 which engage bottom bars 33. The hanger plate 6 by this arrangement is permitted to rock between the channels 5 to provide angular play for the whole set ofjcylindersin unison about an axis at right anglesto the axis of the ball pivots 24 about which the several cylinders have independent angular play and thus .provision is maderfor the whole cable connections to rock en bloc normal to the plane of the cables so as to compensate for any displacement or non-alignment of their common axis with reference to the delivery face of the overhead pulley ,from which thecables h n The necessary angular playof the cylinders independently in the .plane of the cables to provide the compensation necessary for the best working results is obtained by the pivotal movement allowed each cylinder on its respective ball pivots 24.

In Fig. 5 I show an elevator 35 with the trunnions 30 of its hanger plate 3llying in a vertical plane tangent to the delivery face of the cable drum 36. The equalizing elements are thus shown all in a line in the plane of pull on the drum.

I thus provide a six cable suspension with the cables of each pair-equalizing through the play of their respective bars H, the pairs of cables equalizing through the movement .of their plungers in the-cylinders and-the rocking of their cylinders on their, ball pivots 24,- and the whole suspension adjusting itself by the angular play of its'hanger'plate on its trunnions 30. By direct connecting th plungers each. to a'single cable the suspension can be adapted for use with a I provide flexible three cable elevator suspension. In like manner four or five cable suspensions can be provided for by employing equalizer bars I I on one or more of the plungers for pairs of cables to connect thereto, it being understood that the cross sectional area of the cylinders must vary according to the load they support.

7 In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, I show, the rocking hanger plate 6 as in Fig. 3, but in this arrangement the tubular pistons 3i, which work in the cylinders 38, have at their upper ends shoulders 39 which carry the grease cup ring 23 and the ball seat ring 8a. The ball pivots 24 are seated between the rings 8 and 8a, and the rings 8 are seated in the grooves surrounding the openings 9 in the plate 5. The upper end of the pistons project through and have angular play in the openings 9 and the bore in each is closed overhead by a top screw plug 40 having a central bore closed by a small screw plug M for enabling the oil to be introduced through a piston into its cylinder. Each piston, at its lower end, carries a cup washer 38 which is however inverted as compared with the showing in Fig. 1. because in this construction the cables are connected to the lower head 42 of the cylinders, these heads being projected at opposite sides to form ears which are perforated for the reception of a pair of hanger rods 43 which pass up through suitable openings in the plate 6,

in which they have angular play, and are connected overhead in pairs to the bars 44, each having a central aperture through which a suspension rod 45 passes and is made fast, its upper end being pivotally connected centrally between the equalizer bars I l for its respective pair of shackles l2.

The equalizer pipes 21 in the construction have their nipples 28 screwed into holes leading through the piston shoulders 39 into the piston bores, thus enabling the fluid packs in the several cylinders to be interconnected for equalizing purposes.

The operation of this form of my invention is identical with that already described, its advantagesbeing that the use of stufilng boxes is avoided while the cylinders can rock just as freely through the ball pivots by which their respective pistons take their bearing on the rocker plate 6, and of course the rocker plate permits all of the cylinders to rock in unison in the manner and for the purposes already described.

While I have shown my invention in but two forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An equalizer means for connecting multiple cables to a load, comprising a group of aligned equalizer units, a common support pivoted-to the load along the axial plane'of which said units are mounted for angular play in unison, and rocker bearings between the units and said load support.

2. An equalizer means for connecting multiple cables to a load, comprising a hanger plate having end trunnion bearings connecting it to the load, a groupof equalizer units arranged substantially in a plane with the plate axis and having rocker bearings which connect them to the. plate free for independent angular play about an axis normal to the plate axis.

3. An equalizer means for connecting cables to a load, comprising a plurality of interconnected equalizer units each embodying a cylinder and a piston element, suspension cable connections to one of said elements of each of the several units, a rocker mounting for connecting the load to the other element of the several units, and a pivotal bearing for each of said latter elements having its axis normal to the axis of said rocker bearing.

4. An equalizer means for connecting cables to a load, comprising a plurality of cylinders having pressure equalizing connections, pistons for said cyilnders having cable connections, a 15 EDWARD T. BEA'I'IY. 

